TK8 News
Assistant Principal Ector's Corner- May 6, 2024
This Week at Thompson K8 International Academy
Odd/Even Rotation
- 5/06/2024 -ODD
- 5/07/2024 - EVEN
- 5/08/2024 - ODD
- 5/09/2024 - EVEN
- 5/10/2024 - ODD
Save the Date
DAPCEP FIELD TRIP FOR 7TH AND 8TH GRADE SCHOLARS
7th and 8th grade scholars will participate in DAPCEP's
“STEM: Unveiling Tomorrow’s Potential Today!” on Tuesday, May 7, 2024!
SPS Spring Open House
We are excited to remind you about our upcoming Spring Open House! Mark your calendars for Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Southfield A&T High School Gym located at 24675 Lahser Road, Southfield.
Thompson's Spring Open House
May 14, 2024 from 5 pm - 7 pm at Thompson
- Literacy Night
- STEM Night
- Science Fair
- Family Engagement Activities
7th and 8th Grade Cedar Point Trip
Thursday, May 16, 2024, 07:00 AM
Sandusky, OH, USA
Community Project Showcase Pictures
Construction Career Days Field Trip Pictures
District's Writing Contest Winner
Congratulations to 6th grader, Dameon Watson, for winning the district's writing contest with his entry, "Heroes". Additionally, thank you to the District Literacy Team!
Teacher Appreciation Week Runs Monday, May 6th to Friday, May 10th
Take a moment to thank your teachers for all that they do!
School Closures and Holidays
5/24/24 - 5/27/24: Memorial Day Recess
6/13/24: Last Day of School - Half (1/2) Day
IB Corner
TK8 News: IB Corner
May 6, 2024
April's IB Learner Profile Trait:
~ Principled ~
According to the IB Learner Profile, being Principled means being someone who will "act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere.”
IB FAMILY CONNECTION
Students who are PRINCIPLED have a sense of fairness and are honest with themselves and with others. They understand that sometimes there are rules and they follow them. They have an understanding of moral reasoning.
How can parents help to develop students who are Principled at home?
Involve your child in deciding on the rules for a game or activity and then ensure that they stick to the ones that have been decided upon.
Encourage your child to play games that involve teams.
Discuss with your child the qualities of a team player. What sort of person would they want on their team?
When your child wins a game, insist that he or she is a well-mannered winner. They might thank their opponent or shake hands with them if it’s appropriate.
When playing a game, don’t change the rules or “let” your child win. Being a gracious loser is just as important as being a good winner
Thank you to all of the families who attended, and congratulations to all of the outstanding 8th grade scholars who presented their projects at the
~ 2024 TK8 Community Showcase ~
–Darcy Romeo
IB Coordinator
8th Grade Information
As we near the end of the school year and the end of your child's enrollment at Thompson, please keep in mind that there are academic and behavior requirements that may impact your child's ability to participate in end of year activities, including, but not limited to 8th Grade end of year activities.
Academic & Behavior Requirements
Completion of Educational Development Plan (EDPs) and Suite 360 lessons: these activities are completed in Academic Enrichment class or in sessions with Ms. Minnick (Counselor)
Completion of all 8th Grade MYP Community Project requirements: reference this copy of the TK8 News for more information
Pass all core academic classes (see Board Policy 5410 attachment): please contact your child's teachers for current grades if you believe your child is in danger of not meeting this requirement
No repeated and/or egregious SPS Code of Conduct violations
8th Grade Dates
Schoolwide Community Project Showcase: April 30 (attendance is required)
Community Project Night: June 1, 2023 at 5:30 pm (attendance is required)
8th Grade Promotion Ceremony: June 10, 2024 at 9:30 am
8th Grade Dinner Dance: Date & Time To Be Determined
Please reach out to Assistant Principal Ector with any questions.
Sincerely,
Thompson K-8 Administration
End of the Year Activities
I'm sure that you are enjoying the change in temperature and are making plans to enjoy the sunshine. Due to Spring presenting us with warmer temperatures, some of our scholars have come down with a case of "spring fever”. Please reiterate to your child/ren that "play fighting/horseplay" is an unacceptable behavior, an unsafe action and is a direct violation of the SPS Code of Conduct.
29.Disruptive Conduct
(A) Conduct which materially and substantially interferes with the educational process. (B) Horseplay: The act of bodily contact, such as pushing, pulling, tripping, etc. (short of injury and without intent to harm) in or on school property or going to or from school, including any activity under school sponsorship. (C) Malicious mischief including “pranks.” This could include disruption of performances and ceremonies with “catcalls,” paraphernalia and any actions used to distract and demean a student, employee, event or activity. Students who engage in any of the above referenced conduct shall be subject to suspension or expulsion.
No scholar should ever "play fight, hit, push, slap, punch, etc." another scholar. There is a high likelihood that while play fighting, a hit or push is too hard and a play fight is now a real fight. All scholars must keep their hands and feet to themselves and report any unsafe action from a peer to a staff member.
Many of our teachers have field trips planned as well as our annual all school carnival/field day and for our 8th graders, a promotion ceremony. All activities not directly related to academic instruction are a privilege for students to participate in. Scholars who do not follow behavior expectations in class, the lunchroom, the hallway, on the bus or any assigned area that impacts our school day will be restricted from attending some or all extracurricular activities mentioned above. Additionally, violating district and/or school policies related to cell phones, dress code, etc. will also impact participation in end of year activities.
We want to intentionally end the school year on a positive note, so positive behavior will be inspected and is expected. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and partnership with Thompson K-8 in ensuring that our scholars exhibit positive behavior.
After School Activities
Only students participating or attending an after school activity are allowed to remain in the building. Siblings or friends may not stay at school and wait for an activity (athletic practices, detention, etc.) to end. This is a safety issue.
Early Dismissal
Thompson's scholars are engaged in learning activities for the ENTIRE school day and early dismissals/pick-ups are an interruption to the learning process. Early dismissals are discouraged because they tend to disrupt instructional time. Our school day runs from 8:45 am to 4:00 pm. Instructional time is lost with constant disruption of pulling children early from class. These disruptions have an effect on the learning environment for ALL students. Early dismissals must not be used to "avoid traffic" and medical/dental appointments should be scheduled after the school day. Early dismissals after 3:30 pm will require approval from building administration.
For the safety and security of all our students, if your child is being picked up early from school, the person must first report to our Security Officer, show proper identification and be listed on the student’s emergency card. Please be sure that your child’s emergency card information is up-to-date with contact information on who your child is allowed to be released to. Whether you write a note or call, identification must be shown in order for the student to be released. Thank you for
your assistance in this matter.
MYP After School Detention
After School Detentions are issued for scholars who violate school and/or district policies such as:
- Inappropriate behavior/defiance
- Dress code
- Cell phone violations
- Excessive tardies
Students that receive an after school detention ALWAYS receive a 24 hour notice to serve their detention and parents/guardians are ALWAYS called, by a staff member, to give notice as well. For reasons like this, we ask to have your most up to date contact information on file. Even if we fail to reach the parent/guardian, the student is given a hard copy of their notice to serve. Detention is held on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 4:15 pm - 5:15 pm. Students must be picked up after the detention is served (bus transportation is not available). If your student does not attend their assigned detention, he/she will be assigned an Out of School Suspension.
Important Reminders
Thompson's doors open at 8:35 am
- Students MAY NOT be dropped off before this time because there is no staff to monitor them.
School starts at 8:45 am
- Please make arriving to school on time a priority.
- There has been a steady stream of students arriving to school after 8:45 am. Students should be in their classrooms at 8:45 am, not walking into the building.
- Although we are still experiencing some school bus issues, most of those are occuring in the afternoon, not in the morning. Students who ride the bus should be at their assigned stop 10 minutes before their scheduled pick up time.
- If your child does not ride the bus and is driven to school, please plan for traffic and any other potential issues that could make your child late and leave home no later than 8:10 am in order to give yourself at least 25 minutes to coincide with our opening bell of 8:35 am.
School is dismissed at 4:00 pm
- If your child does not ride the bus, please be on time to pick them up.
- The Main Office closes at 4:30 pm and our staff would like to spend their evening after work with their families. However, we do realize that sometimes situations beyond our control may happen so we ask that you contact the Main Office at 248-746-7400 if you anticipate being late to pick up your child.
Southfield Public Schools has a Dress Code
- All students should come to school dressed appropriately.
- Fingertips should touch the hem of all shorts and skirts without pulling or tugging on them.
- Shirts, blouses, and tops should fully cover backs, torsos, and cleavage on all students.
- No low cut tops allowed or bare midriffs.
- The complete SPS Dress Code may be found here: https://www.southfieldk12.org/parents-students/students/dress-code/.
Policy & Important Information
Absence Reporting
Parents/Guardians may now enter an excused absence for their child in the MiStar Parent Portal. Instructions were sent to all parent/guardian email accounts. However, you may still call the school at 248.746.7400 and press "2" if your child will be absent from school or needs to be picked up early, to be connected to our attendance line. Absences more than 24 hours will NOT be excused.
Cell Phone Policy
Cell phones and electronic devices have become a way of life, a technological convenience that has impacted our lives in one way or another. However, in the school environment, cell phones/electronic devices have become a serious distraction, interruption, and a method of illegal exchange of information. The ringing of the cell phone during class or the text messaging takes away from the valuable time needed for instruction and most importantly, student learning. We do recognize that cell phones can be a safety/security tool; however, they can be a detriment in the event of a building emergency and our protocol to manage such emergencies in a safe and effective manner. Parents are urged to utilize the school phone to relay any messages that may be urgent in nature to their child. Parents may reach the Main Office at 248-746-7400.
No student will be allowed to possess or use a cell phone or electronic device during school hours. Cell phones must be turned off and secured in MYP students’ assigned locker.
Free Breakfast & Lunch
Southfield Public Schools will continue to provide FREE breakfast and lunch to our students this school year. The Main Office will not accept Door Dash, Uber Eats or any outside restaurant food, including those from parents/guardians. You may drop off a bag lunch from home.
OK2SAY
OK2SAY is the student safety program which allows students to confidentially report tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, school employees, and schools. It uses a comprehensive communication system to facilitate tip sharing among students, parents, school personnel, community mental health service programs, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and law enforcement officials about harmful behaviors that threaten to disrupt the learning environment. (source: michigan.gov/OK2say)
TK8 students and their families are encouraged to report any activity they feel may create an unsafe learning environment.
Peanut Free School
As a safety measure for our students with allergies, we would like to remind the entire school community that all Southfield Public Schools are a peanut-free zone. We kindly request your cooperation in not bringing peanut or peanut-containing products onto school premises or in packed lunches.